Road signs and regulations for cycling in the Netherlands [195]
A quick overview of the most important signs and rules of the road in the Netherlands that regulate cycling.
More info: http://bicycledutch.wordpress.com/2012/06/04/road-signs-for-cycling-in-the-netherlands/
cycling exercise makes the body fresh increase immunity in the body, bright mind, body, healthy, looks like the body will restore new stamina, happy thoughts
One more thing that is probably missing is when fast cyclists overtake slow cyclists. The fast cyclists should overtake from the slow cyclist's left side. In Belgium,I observe that fast cyclists, buggys, ebikes, overtake from the right side. If the slow cyclist is occupying too much space on the path, then the fast cyclist from behind should indicate with a bell to the slow one to make way onto the right side of the path. Then I also see pedestrians, using the bike paths for walking, walk in the opposite direction of th cyclists instead of keeping to the same direction. I wonder why? If there is mixed pedestrian bike traffic on a bike path, then cyclists n pedestrains should be biking and walking in the same direction respectively. Doesn't the highway code of overtake- faster-fast-slow traffic apply to bike paths? Are people not aware?
I guess it's mostly for non europeans as if you live in Europe, you should know most of these signs already but it's always good to repeat what you already know. 😀 The ones with words are a bit confusing at first if you don't speak dutch.. 😀 good thing we like to roll in my village so i have a few years experience on the bike..
I wish eye-level cycle traffic signals were standard in the US. My city has annoying signals that restrict the angle that you can view them at—like a phone privacy screen.
See, this is why international standards and conventions exist, such as the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals. Of course, the US (and a few other countries which follow it) has to be different in this as well and develop its own signs which are text-heavy and less universal than the symbols used most everywhere else in the world, all for basically no benefit at all.
You are allowed to overtake cyclists in the bicycle street (fietsstraat) in The Netherlands, unless it is restricted via additional signs. On the other hand, overtaking is not allowed in Belgium in Belgian fietsstraten.
I'm not a fan of the red and blue system until there are some tweaks made. Here are some confusing problems and inconsistencies:
White signs below a red or blue sign meaning exception…. but other times, it doesn't mean exception… At 3:04, white signs below a red sign means the white part is an exception to the sign above. So 5:45, the white sign having a right arrow underneath a blue sign with bicycle parking should "bicycles must park, but NOT at the right"… right? NOPE. Inconsistent usage of white sign under blue/red sign above. "White sign underneath red/blue is an exception to the rule" is the unspoken grammar of this sign system. Yet this system breaks its own GRAMMAR rule, being INCONSISTENT.
Contradictory visuals. 4:22 blue top sign suggests cars must not overtake bicycles… but the white sign below has bicycles BEHIND the car. this is sending mixed messages.
Inconsistent usage of slashes. 4:47 the no parking sign has a slash through it…. so slash means "NO {x}", right? in this case, where x= blue aka no going here. 3:31 But the end of the road has a slash, so so someone might think slash means "no X", road having a slash ruins that understanding. The difference is that the no parking one has a red circle around it, but all in all, it's confusing.
No symbol for car: Does the general no parking applies for cars only, or all types of vehicles? How about if it's the no parking symbol with a bicycle – does it mean cars can park there, or ONLY bikes must not park there?
Overall, interesting and nice system. red and blue are colorblind-proof, so that's a good thing. But there are lots of inconsistencies and confusing ways they denote things. It could be better. with these issues resolved.
It really helps when there are global simple paradigm rules instead of memorizing a bunch of detailed individual rules. In that spirit, here are some better ways to explain things.
"sharks teeth pointing toward you" look just like the international yield sign at 3:56. So explicitly stating this connection by calling it "multiple white yield signs" instead of "shark's teeth pointing toward you" makes the connection and the bigger picture logic of the system clearer.
Likewise, you can point out that the upside down yield sign triangle means the opposite of the downward pointing yield sign – you have priority.
I would love to see signs that are TRULY international for motorized and non-motorized vehicles as I believe that could stop a lot of confusion all the way around, but I'm just an 'old fool' so what would I know. Thanks for the quick lesson on cycling/traffic signs in the Netherlands.
Two interesting differences here in Germany: * we place the cycling light behind the intersection, just like the pedestrian lights. * signing the path for pedestrians is optional in both countries, but much more common in Germany.
25 Comments
This person stole your video https://youtu.be/_zLvmv_jIAY
Very useful video. Thank you!
VERY important for anyone unfamiliar with the unspoken rules of Dutch bike culture.
– The Bike Instructor's guide to cycling in Amsterdam – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEON08d76oE&ab_channel=Iamsterdam
Asshole drivers (BMW, Golf, etc.) often use their park anywhere lights as an excuse to drive in the wrong direction of a one way street.
Flying deer are a serious issue in the netherlands, you really need to be careful of those!
cycling exercise makes the body fresh increase immunity in the body, bright mind, body, healthy, looks like the body will restore new stamina, happy thoughts
Waarom kijk ik dit?
Come visit Ireland where we use both sign systems together
why does this explain netherlands signs better than the book for my drivers test here in america?
One more thing that is probably missing is when fast cyclists overtake slow cyclists. The fast cyclists should overtake from the slow cyclist's left side. In Belgium,I observe that fast cyclists, buggys, ebikes, overtake from the right side. If the slow cyclist is occupying too much space on the path, then the fast cyclist from behind should indicate with a bell to the slow one to make way onto the right side of the path.
Then I also see pedestrians, using the bike paths for walking, walk in the opposite direction of th cyclists instead of keeping to the same direction. I wonder why? If there is mixed pedestrian bike traffic on a bike path, then cyclists n pedestrains should be biking and walking in the same direction respectively. Doesn't the highway code of overtake- faster-fast-slow traffic apply to bike paths? Are people not aware?
I'll keep coming back to this video until I master cycling in the Netherlands
I guess it's mostly for non europeans as if you live in Europe, you should know most of these signs already but it's always good to repeat what you already know. 😀 The ones with words are a bit confusing at first if you don't speak dutch.. 😀 good thing we like to roll in my village so i have a few years experience on the bike..
very easy he says at the end after a PhD level discourse on the rules of the road
You know, I think signs might be the one place where the US did it better.
I wish eye-level cycle traffic signals were standard in the US. My city has annoying signals that restrict the angle that you can view them at—like a phone privacy screen.
See, this is why international standards and conventions exist, such as the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals. Of course, the US (and a few other countries which follow it) has to be different in this as well and develop its own signs which are text-heavy and less universal than the symbols used most everywhere else in the world, all for basically no benefit at all.
You are allowed to overtake cyclists in the bicycle street (fietsstraat) in The Netherlands, unless it is restricted via additional signs. On the other hand, overtaking is not allowed in Belgium in Belgian fietsstraten.
https://nl.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fietsstraat
I'm not a fan of the red and blue system until there are some tweaks made. Here are some confusing problems and inconsistencies:
White signs below a red or blue sign meaning exception…. but other times, it doesn't mean exception…
At 3:04, white signs below a red sign means the white part is an exception to the sign above.
So 5:45, the white sign having a right arrow underneath a blue sign with bicycle parking should "bicycles must park, but NOT at the right"… right? NOPE.
Inconsistent usage of white sign under blue/red sign above.
"White sign underneath red/blue is an exception to the rule" is the unspoken grammar of this sign system.
Yet this system breaks its own GRAMMAR rule, being INCONSISTENT.
Contradictory visuals.
4:22
blue top sign suggests cars must not overtake bicycles…
but the white sign below has bicycles BEHIND the car.
this is sending mixed messages.
Inconsistent usage of slashes.
4:47 the no parking sign has a slash through it…. so slash means "NO {x}", right? in this case, where x= blue aka no going here.
3:31 But the end of the road has a slash, so so someone might think slash means "no X",
road having a slash ruins that understanding.
The difference is that the no parking one has a red circle around it, but all in all, it's confusing.
No symbol for car:
Does the general no parking applies for cars only, or all types of vehicles?
How about if it's the no parking symbol with a bicycle – does it mean cars can park there, or ONLY bikes must not park there?
Overall, interesting and nice system. red and blue are colorblind-proof, so that's a good thing.
But there are lots of inconsistencies and confusing ways they denote things.
It could be better. with these issues resolved.
It really helps when there are global simple paradigm rules instead of memorizing a bunch of detailed individual rules. In that spirit, here are some better ways to explain things.
"sharks teeth pointing toward you" look just like the international yield sign at 3:56.
So explicitly stating this connection by calling it "multiple white yield signs" instead of "shark's teeth pointing toward you" makes the connection and the bigger picture logic of the system clearer.
Likewise, you can point out that the upside down yield sign triangle means the opposite of the downward pointing yield sign – you have priority.
3:33 will you get a ticket if you ride your bike next to where the cars are parked, or no?
Good system
Heb gelijk mijn kennis weer afkunnen stoffen.
I would love to see signs that are TRULY international for motorized and non-motorized vehicles as I believe that could stop a lot of confusion all the way around, but I'm just an 'old fool' so what would I know.
Thanks for the quick lesson on cycling/traffic signs in the Netherlands.
Two interesting differences here in Germany:
* we place the cycling light behind the intersection, just like the pedestrian lights.
* signing the path for pedestrians is optional in both countries, but much more common in Germany.
1:37 LEFT around the roundabout?